Xi Jinping urges protection of shipping through Strait of Hormuz in phone call with Saudi crown prince
Xi calls for safeguarding passage through the Strait of Hormuz and backs an immediate ceasefire while urging diplomatic solutions to Middle East conflicts.
China’s president Xi Jinping on Monday urged the safeguarding of normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and expressed support for an immediate, comprehensive ceasefire in the Middle East, according to the Chinese state news agency Xinhua. The appeal came during a telephone conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a call that underlined Beijing’s concern about risks to maritime traffic and regional stability. Xi also emphasized that disputes in the region should be resolved through political and diplomatic channels rather than military means.
Xi reiterates call for uninterrupted maritime transit
Xi told the Saudi crown prince that China supports keeping shipping lanes open and operating normally, Xinhua reported. He framed the Strait of Hormuz as vital not only for regional economies but for global trade and energy flows.
Chinese officials presented the message as part of Beijing’s wider diplomatic push to reduce the risk of disruption to commerce and to reassure energy-importing nations. The appeal highlights China’s interest in securing maritime routes that are critical to its oil and trade supplies.
China backs an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire
During the conversation Xi said China supports an immediate, comprehensive ceasefire and advocates settling disputes through diplomacy, according to the state bulletin. That stance aligns with Beijing’s longstanding public emphasis on negotiation and multilateral dialogue in international crises.
The call comes as tensions in parts of the Middle East have triggered international concern about the prospect of wider conflict and threats to shipping lanes. Beijing’s reference to a ceasefire signals its preference for de-escalation and a political rather than military path forward.
Phone call underscores Beijing-Riyadh diplomatic ties
The exchange with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reflects more frequent and substantive contacts between Beijing and Riyadh in recent years. China and Saudi Arabia have expanded economic and strategic ties, particularly in energy, infrastructure and investment.
Officials on both sides have used high-level communications to manage sensitive regional developments, and the phone call demonstrates Riyadh’s role as a key interlocutor for China in Gulf affairs. The message was couched in diplomatic language intended to avoid taking sides while pressing for stability.
Implications for Gulf shipping and global energy markets
Any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz would have immediate implications for global oil shipments, as a significant share of world energy supplies transit the waterway. Markets typically react swiftly to perceptions of higher geopolitical risk in the Gulf, and reassurance from major powers can help moderate those moves.
Beijing’s public call to keep the strait open is aimed at calming markets and signalling to both producers and consumers that China will seek to protect vital sea lanes. The appeal also carries weight because China is one of the world’s largest oil importers and has growing commercial stakes in the wider region.
Regional diplomacy gains renewed focus after the call
Xi’s remarks reinforce the idea that diplomacy should be the primary mechanism for addressing conflicts in the region. The call may prompt renewed efforts by regional and international actors to explore ceasefire options and to open channels for negotiation.
For Gulf states, the conversation serves as a reminder of the diplomatic levers available to them, including engagement with major external partners such as China. It also underscores the role of back-channel and direct communications in managing moments of acute tension.
Potential responses from international stakeholders
Beijing’s position is likely to be watched closely by Western capitals and regional players that have different strategic priorities in the Middle East. Some governments may welcome China’s emphasis on de-escalation, while others could view the messaging through the lens of broader geopolitical competition.
International organisations and shipping companies will also monitor developments to assess risk levels for vessels transiting the Hormuz corridor. Any sustained increase in tensions would prompt a reassessment of insurance premiums, route planning and contingency measures.
The phone call between President Xi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reflects Beijing’s calculated diplomatic posture at a moment of heightened concern over Gulf security. By stressing the need to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and advocating a ceasefire and political dialogue, China is positioning itself as a stakeholder seeking stability for trade and energy flows. The coming days are likely to show whether the appeal translates into concrete diplomatic steps or broader international coordination to protect maritime passage and reduce the risk of wider conflict.
